Sunday, May 25, 2008

Wizards play half a game again

Kansas City fell for the 3rd time in 4 games and are 1-3-1 on the team's current 6 game road trip after a 3-1 loss in LA last night. For the second week in a row, the Wizards could not make a half time lead hold up. This time it was designated player, Claudio Lopez who got the goal on a play of individual brilliance as he beat one defender and as Abel Xavier backed off, Lopez ripped a shot into the upper 90. It was what the Wizards deserved by that point, as they'd been pushing the attack and going at the Galaxy for most of the first half. Again, Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman was there when he needed to be, stoning Landon Donovan on a point blank shot early in the game.

In the second half, things were different. Nine minutes in, LA had tied it up from the spot after Tyson Wahl fouled Donovan in the box. In the 74th, Edson Buddle scored his 4th goal in the last two games after being fed by Donovan. Upon replay, whether Buddle was onside was brought into question, as he looked to be a yard or so ahead of the last defender on his goal.

With the game winding down, Hartman came forward for a corner kick. After the unsuccessful corner, the ball fell to David Beckham, who blasted the ball towards goal from his own half. And with Hartman down at the other end of the field there was no one to stop his shot as it rolled into the net to give LA the 3-1 win.

Wizards man of the match - Claudio Lopez - It was close between Lopez and Hartman for man of the match, but Lopez's emphisis on the game, especially in the first half gives Lopez man of the match.